Fuse, on/off & AC wiring

[tubenit]

I accidently ordered a AC receptacle plug that has a fuse in it.  My understanding is that the small blade on the AC cord is hot and the large blade on AC cord is neutral?  

Q1)  Is that correct?

I have always wired the fuse and the on/off both on the small blade (hot) side on my amps. However, as I am looking at this AC receptacle with the built in fuse ............. it appears that the fuse is in the neutral side and that the on/off would hook up on the hot side.  

Q2)  Is that correct?

However, I noticed that Hoffman's 18watt Stout has the fuse on the hot side and the on/off on the neutral side.

Q3)  Any problems reversing those and having the on/off on the hot side and the fuse on the neutral side? Does it make any difference
       which side the fuse or on/off switch is on?


Thanks, Tubenit

[Colas LeGrippa]

Hi,

I always hook up the on/off switch on the hot side. This way, you can be sure that when the switch is thrown off, no voltage is present. The fuse can be installed on the neutral side, the current is present on the neutral and extra current will blow the fuse. On the wall outlet, the narrow slot is the hot , or supposed to be.
Check with your voltmeter to see if the narrow pin on the ac cord is hot too, just to know where the hot is, on the switch or on the fuse.

Colas

[Shrapnel]

I accidently ordered a AC receptacle plug that has a fuse in it.  My understanding is that the small blade on the AC cord is hot and the large blade on AC cord is neutral?  

Q1)  Is that correct?

That's the specs, but unfortunately it doesn't always happen that way, Even ground can get screwed up with shoddy wiring practice. I just assume it's wired right and wire accordingly.

I have always wired the fuse and the on/off both on the small blade (hot) side on my amps. However, as I am looking at this AC receptacle with the built in fuse ............. it appears that the fuse is in the neutral side and that the on/off would hook up on the hot side.  

Q2)  Is that correct?

Have you stuck an IEC cord in the outlet and checked to make sure? It might be as you say. Then again, it isn't too hard to get confused looking at the socket all by itself. I always try to have the hot switched, and if I wire the fuse in the hot side, before the switch.

However, I noticed that Hoffman's 18watt Stout has the fuse on the hot side and the on/off on the neutral side.

Q3)  Any problems reversing those and having the on/off on the hot side and the fuse on the neutral side? Does it make any difference
       which side the fuse or on/off switch is on?


Thanks, Tubenit

Shouldn't matter, all that current going down the hot side has to return down the neutral.  I know I prefer at least the switch to be on the hot side, so I have (on the premise a properly wired outlet) zero live AC on the tranny in respect to neutral and ground. Function wise, it works the same any way you wire it, as long as it's in series. IMHO, 'tis better to have at least the switch on the hot side.

[sluckey]

I accidently ordered a AC receptacle plug that has a fuse in it.  My understanding is that the small blade on the AC cord is hot and the large blade on AC cord is neutral?  

Q1)  Is that correct?

Yes, if you are talking about the three prong male connector that actually plugs into the wall outlet.

I have always wired the fuse and the on/off both on the small blade (hot) side on my amps. However, as I am looking at this AC receptacle with the built in fuse ............. it appears that the fuse is in the neutral side and that the on/off would hook up on the hot side.  

Q2)  Is that correct?

No. You have the terminals of the IEC connector mislabeled. Looking at the pic in the top left of your collage, the terminal on the left (red line) is the neutral terminal and the terminal on the right (green line) is the hot terminal. When in doubt, just plug a power cord into the IEC socket and connect to the wall. Measure voltage in respect to the ground center pin. You'll see that 120VAC is really connected to the fuse.

However, I noticed that Hoffman's 18watt Stout has the fuse on the hot side and the on/off on the neutral side.

Q3)  Any problems reversing those and having the on/off on the hot side and the fuse on the neutral side? Does it make any difference
       which side the fuse or on/off switch is on?

No problems. It will work either way. It doesn't make any difference to the electronic circuit. But, it makes a difference to me and most any qualified electrician. In the electrical world it's illegal to switch or fuse the neutral wire. IAW NEC, neutral must be continous/unbroken all the way back to the breaker panel. This rule does not apply inside your electronic device, but I like knowing that when the fuse is pulled or the switch is off, there ain't any 120VAC running around the circuit past the fuse/switch.


EDIT... Added pic

[Geezer]

Hey T,
I happen to have one of those right in front of me, as I use them for my builds.....very convenient & you can keep a spare fuse right inside the little fuse drawer.

You have it reversed (I think).

Look at the back side (w/ the solder tabs) & you will see markings that tell you what is what.
The "Hot" tab is fused & is marked with an "L" ("live", I suppose) & the other tabs are marked with "N" (neutral) & "E" (earth).

HTH,  G

Oh, and (as Sluckey sez) I would (& do) put the switch on the "hot" side.

[birt]

it doesn't really matter what side the fuse is on. and if you want to be sure your switch is on the hot side without having to trust the wiring of every wall outlet, use a switch that interrupts BOTH sides.

[Fresh_Start]

Thanks for this discussion!  I'm about to use an IEC cord/outlet for the first time and am glad to know that it's drawn right in my layout.  Testing anyway before installation is a good idea IMHO.

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of a double-pole power switch which cuts hot AND neutral.

Cheers,

Chip

[tubenit]

Gentlemen,

Thanks for the help!  I will hook up the cord to the AC receptacle and check which is hot and neutral. And I'll make sure the on/off is on hot.

Best regards, Tubenit

[tubenit]

Guys,

You're right!  Fuse is in the hot side.  

Apparently, the cord has the wires twisted through out so that the "small" male blade/side does not line up visually with the AC receptacle prong that is on the "same" side. I wrongly presumed the wires ran perfectly parallel thru the cord.

THANKS!  With respect, Tubenit